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Explore the impact of globalization on media and culture, including the crossing of time and space, the globalization of media content, cultural imperialism, and the politics of information flow. Discover the complexities and limitations of the global village and the future of mass media in a changing world.
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Soc. 118Media, Culture & Society Chapter Ten: Media in a Changing Global Culture
OVERVIEW • What is Globalization? • Crossing Limits of Time and Space • Crossing Cultural Boundaries • The Global Media Industry • Global Media Content • Cultural Imperialism • Thesis and its Complications • The Politics of Information Flow • Video Presentation: • “60 Minutes—Bhutan: Gross National Happiness” • Limits of the Global Village
What is Globalization? • World Audiences • 1969: Moonwalk—1 billion • 1994: World Cup Finals—2 billion • 1997: Princess Diana Funeral—2.5 billion • 2000: Olympics (Sydney)—3.7 billion • 2001: Attacks of 9/11—? billion • Interaction and interdependence • Beyond local, regional and national boundaries • Media has become truly global in nature • CNN • Satellite • Internet (WWW) • Central Themes • Changing role of time and space • Global content and consumption
What is Globalization? • Crossing Limits of Time and Space • The Global Village (McLuhan) • Time: Increases speed of transmission (instantaneous) • Space: Reduces distance between sender and receiver • Crossing Cultural Boundaries • The case of popular (“world”) music • More available to different cultures • Exchange of elements between cultures • Hybrid forms make for new unique sound • Media Globalization • The Promise • A multiplicity of voices, extending range of knowledge, understanding • The Reality • Neither democratic or egalitarian, rooted in wealthy nations and conglomerates
The Global Media Industry • Global Products, Centralized Ownership • Distribution spread out across the globe • Ownership is centralized in a few mega conglomerates • Control of content in hands of a few of the wealthiest • Trends in Ownership • Concentration (Ch. 2) • Fewer and fewer corporations own the media • The Case of Bertelsmann (Ch. 10) • Global reach (pg. 349-353) • 500 companies, 56 countries, 82,00 employees
Global Media Content • The Cultural Imperialism Thesis(Ch. 7—pg. 260-264) • Media from the West dominates world market • Preference for expensive budgets and production values • Example: Film, TV, music • Others become dependent on U.S. for cultural products • Powerful force in shaping cultures of other nations • Spreads values associated with individualism, capitalism • Contributes to decline in local traditional values • Limited local production, cheaper to buy U.S. programs • Media companies pay attention to other cultures • Working within local media • Customized products sell better than global media • Local adaptation • Western media disguised in local tastes
Global Media Content • Complications to Cultural Imperialism • Limitations to the thesis • Foreign audiences may interpret U.S. media differently • U.S. products only dominate in some media • Local stars and programs may be more popular • Limited appeal of Western products • The Politics of Information Flow • Dissemination of information worldwide through media • From the West (developed nations) to the East (developing nations) • Promoting peace and understanding? • A tool for propaganda? • Freedom of the press seems fundamental to Westerners • Others see it privileging capitalist ideology • They do not want to be flooded with messages • They may want more “balanced” information
Video Presentation: 60 Minutes “Bhutan: Gross National Happiness”
The Future of Mass Media • Understanding globalization • Key to understanding future of media • What are issues of concern? • The Information Revolution • Post-industrial, postmodern, digital age • The revolution will be slow, partial, and full of contradictions • Changes as significant as any in human history • The importance of “mediacy” • Media literacy